Calligra Sheets vs Pyspread (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Calligra Sheets grades higher than Pyspread: 2.8 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Calligra Sheets grades higher on ease of use. Pyspread grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Pyspread
Free open-source spreadsheet where every cell holds Python code
Which one is for you
Pick Calligra Sheets if
- Fits if you run Linux and want an offline spreadsheet for invoices and budgets
- Works for people who already use KDE apps
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Windows, a Mac or a phone, as only Linux is listed
- Not for you if you need people editing one sheet together, as no cloud collaboration is described
- Watch out: the pages publish no system requirements
- Watch out: the Windows version is only described as being worked on
Pick Pyspread if
- Fits if you know Python and want formulas that are real code
- Works for people who need a free desktop sheet on Linux
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac, as macOS is currently unsupported
- Not for you if you don't write Python, since every cell is code
- Too light for heavy number-crunching, as long-running cells can lock it up
- Tight if you want an easy install, since it needs Python and PyQt6
How we grade them
| 2.8GPACalligra SheetsGood | 2.6GPAPyspreadGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree to install, with optional donations to KDE. A program anyone can download and run counts as free and substantial. | AFree under GPL v3 for anyone to download and run, with no paid plan. |
| Free plan and trial | ANo plan, no cap and no account: the whole program is free. | AFree outright, with no cap and no paid tier. |
| Features | CFormulas, charts and templates for common sheets. The listing shows no cloud collaboration, which for a spreadsheet is a gap, so this is a C. | CPython in cells, modules, charts, images and import and export. Long-running cells can lock the app, and it isn't built for heavy computation. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record. You install it from your distribution or Flathub and open it, with nothing to set up. | DYou install it with pip or a system package and it needs Python and PyQt6. The project warns that cell code is a steep climb for non-programmers. |
| Platforms and integrations | DLinux only. The site says a Windows version is being worked on, and no web, iPhone or Android version is listed. | CA program for computers only, on Linux and Windows. macOS is listed as unsupported, with links to NumPy, Matplotlib and R. |
| Best for | a free spreadsheet on Linux | a free spreadsheet where every cell holds Python |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Calligra Sheets and Pyspread. How we grade
Price against what you get
Calligra Sheets has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Pyspread has no paid plan and scores 1.7.
Calligra Sheets scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other spreadsheet and database tools on the chart, none scores higher than Calligra Sheets for less, and none scores higher than Pyspread for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Calligra Sheets also covers templates.
At a glance
| Calligra Sheets | Pyspread | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free to install; the site asks for optional donations to KDE. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | KDE | Martin Manns and the pyspread team |
| Price read from | calligra.org | pyspread.gitlab.io |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Calligra Sheets
- The download page lists Linux only; a Windows version is described as being worked on.
- No web, iOS or Android version is listed.
- It is installed from distribution repositories or Flathub, and there are no published system requirements.
- No cloud collaboration is described on its pages.
Pyspread
- The project says people without Python experience may find the learning curve for code in cells too steep.
- It is not built to parallelize heavy computation, and long-running cells can lock up the app.
- The install page lists Linux, POSIX platforms and Windows, and says macOS is currently unsupported.
- It needs Python and PyQt6, and is installed with pip or a system package.
Key features
Calligra Sheets
- Formulas and charts
- The page describes a comprehensive formula list covering economic and scientific functions, and charts.
- Templates
- Default templates for balance sheets, invoices, credit-card trackers and vacation lists.
- Shapes and mind maps
- Shares Calligra's shapes, so notes, flowcharts and mind maps can sit alongside a sheet.
- Familiar spreadsheet tools
- The page says it uses the same tools and functions as other spreadsheets and describes a responsive application that opens and saves files quickly.
Pyspread
- Python in cells
- Cells accept Python expressions, so no separate spreadsheet formula language is needed.
- Python modules available
- Cells can use modules such as NumPy, and a macro panel can import your own modules.
- Charts and images
- Cells can show text, markup, images, dates or charts; Matplotlib and R charts are supported, some through optional dependencies.
- Import and export
- Imports CSV, SVG and XLSX, and exports CSV, SVG and PDF; XLSX import needs optional dependencies and PDF is made by printing to file.
- Signed save files
- The pysu save format works with git, and blake2b signatures are meant to stop foreign code from running.
Plans
Calligra Sheets
Free$0
Install from your Linux distribution or Flathub; donations to KDE are optional.
Pyspread
Free$0
Free software under the GPL v3 licence; no paid plans.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Calligra Sheets or Pyspread?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Calligra Sheets and Pyspread are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Calligra Sheets or Pyspread?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Calligra Sheets and Pyspread have a free plan.
Which platforms do Calligra Sheets and Pyspread run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Pyspread lists a Windows app. Both list a Linux app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.